Absorbent breast pad

ABSTRACT

An object of the present invention is to provide a breast pad which avoids discomfort caused by thermal deformations and heat treatments. In considering this, the breast pad of the present invention has a maim body formed by laminating and fixing together a liquid-absorbing member  12 , a waterproof member  11  disposed at an outside of the liquid-absorbing member and a surface member  13  disposed on a surface of the liquid-absorbing member opposite to a surface on which the waterproof member is disposed. The main body further includes elastic members  17, 17  each disposed on a respective side edge portion of the main body, and side edges  13   a  of the surface members to be disposed at a user&#39;s skin side are folded so as to embrace side edges of the liquid-absorbing member therein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an improved breast pad for a nursingmother which is to be placed between underwear such as a brassiere and abreast.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The type of breast pad which has been conventionally used is shown inFIG. 8. In this drawing, each of the breast pads 1, which is in anapproximately circular dome shape, is placed in each cup 3 of abrassiere 2.

The breast pad 1, as shown in a front view in FIG. 9 and in a side viewin FIG. 10, is of a circular dome shape and is comprised of a pluralityof flexible members laminated in the thickness direction. In detail, thebreast pad 1 is made by laminating a surface member disposed on an innersurface which directly touches a user's skin, an absorbent member and awaterproof member for preventing fluid from leaking from the absorbentmember to clothing.

An adhesive member 4 is formed at a predetermined position on thesurface of the waterproof member. As shown in FIG. 8, the adhesivemember 4 is adhered to an inner surface of the cup 3 of the brassiere 2to fix the breast pad. In this manner, these breast pads 1 are preventedfrom slipping off the underwear.

In the meantime, the breast pad 1 is formed into a dome shape asmentioned above so as to closely cover a breast of a user(not shown).

In order to manufacture the breast pad 1 of such a shape, a method shownin FIG. 11 has been conventionally employed.

As shown in FIG. 11, members constituting the main body of the breastpad 1 are laminated as explained above, and then placed onto a femaledie 5 having a bowl-shaped inner surface. Thereafter, a male die 6having a convex dome shape as shown in FIG. 11 is lowered to press themembers while heating the members by the male die 6 and/or female die 5.

In this manner, the heated main body of the breast pad 1 is formed intoa dome shape.

Since it is necessary to deform the members into a dome shape with heatin the manufacturing process, the waterproof member of the breast pad 1,for example, is made of a heat-deformable materials such as apolyethylene laminate sheet.

Consequently, the breast pad 1 as a final product has relatively hardfeeling after the heat deformation, and is not necessarily comfortableas a final product for directly touching a user's skin.

In some breast pads 1, various considerations are taken such as thesurface member (to be directly fitted to a user's skin) is softened anda special processing is applied to the sealed portion between thesurface member and the waterproof member, so as not to cause anunpleasant feeling via the peripheral edge of the round pad. However, incases where the whole waterproof member is thermally deformed, such apartial improvement did not help to avoid the hard feeling of theproduct. Accordingly, it was difficult to obtain a conformable product.

In addition, even if the main body of the breast pad 1 is formed to havea dome-shape by the heat deformation process, the main body is poor inshape-retaining ability, resulting in a flat shape during wearing. Thisin turn causes the shape of the breast pad to be inconsistent with thefront shape of the user's breast, deteriorating the fitting of thebreast pad, which causes the slipping of the breast pad. A resultingdrawback is that breast milk is spilled without being absorbed thussoiling the user's clothing.

The present invention is proposed to solve the aforementioned problems.The first object thereof is to provide a breast pad which can be formedto have a dome-shape and is excellent in shape-retaining performance.

In addition, the second object of the present invention is to provide adome-shaped breast pad which has not been formed by a heat treatmentprocess, so as to avoid discomfort associated with materials which havebeen subjected to heat deformation and/or heat treatment.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The first object of the present invention according to claim 1 can beattained by a breast pad having a main body formed by laminating awaterproof member on an outside of a liquid-absorbing member,characterized in that the main body is provided with elastic memberseach disposed at a respective side edge portion of the main body andconcave grooves each provided inside each of the elastic members andextended in an expansion direction of each of the elastic members.

According the structure of the claim 1, since the elastic members aredisposed at the side edge portions of the main body, the length of theperipheral edge portion of the main body provided with the elasticmember becomes shorter because the peripheral edge portion is drawntogether in the direction of the elastic member. This causes the centralportion of the main body to be protruded in one direction, resulting ina dome-shape corresponding to the front shape of a user's breast.

In particular, concave grooves are each provided inside the elasticmembers so as to extend in an expansion direction of each of the elasticmembers, so that the peripheral edge portion of the main body is foldedat a folding potion where the concave groove is disposed. Consequently,the main body becomes a more perfect three-dimensional dome shape, andhas a superior shape-retaining ability.

Accordingly, a breast pad fitting a breast shape can be produced withoutheat treatment.

The shape of the main body which becomes dome-shaped by providing anelastic member at the peripheral edge portion thereof, is typicallyround in shape. However, the shape is not limited to a perfectly roundshape, and may be of any shape in which the vertical-horizontal lengthratio is not large. For example, the main body may be a square shape, atrapezoid shape or the like having rounded corners and have relativelylarge (long) elastic members disposed at each peripheral side by whichthe length of each peripheral side becomes shorter due to the elasticityof the elastic members, thus becoming dome-shaped.

The aforementioned term, “dome shape” or “dome shaped,” denotes anyshape having a convex cross-section and a hemispherical shape when cutso as to cross the center thereof.

According to the present invention of claim 2 depending from claim 1,the concave groove curves along the expansion direction of the elasticmember.

With this structure, since a folding portion is curved, the foldingportion becomes in a curved and bent state which is more suitable forforming a dome-shaped breast pad.

According to the present invention of claim 3, the concave groove curvesso as to protrude toward a central portion of the main body along theexpansion direction of the elastic member.

With the structure of claim 3, an ideal conical dome shape can beproduced in which a sectional area decreases toward the central portion.

According to the present invention of claim 4 depending from any one ofclaims 1 to 3, a surface member which comes in contact with a user'sskin is disposed on a surface of the liquid-absorbing member opposite toa surface on which the waterproof member is disposed, and a cushionmember is disposed between the liquid-absorbing member and the surfacemember.

With the structure of claim 4, since the surface member comes in contactwith a user's breast because of the action of the cushion member, it isdifficult for the breast pad to slip out of its location.

According to the present invention of claim 5 depending from claim 4, asurface member is provided with the concave grooves at both sideportions of a nipple-contact portion of the surface member.

With the structure of claim 5, since the surface member and theliquid-absorbing member disposed under the surface member are fixed toeach other at the grooves, members disposed in the main body are hard tobe displaced. Furthermore, since both the side portions of the nipplecontact portion are dented by the grooves, a space for accommodating anipple is formed and the nipple contact portion rises to come in softcontact with the nipple.

The second object of the present invention can be attained by claim 6.According to the present invention of claim 6, a breast pad has a mainbody formed by laminating and adhering together a liquid-absorbingmember, a waterproof member disposed at an outside of theliquid-absorbing member and a surface member disposed on a surface ofthe liquid-absorbing member opposite to a surface on which thewaterproof member is disposed.

With the structure of claim 6, since the elastic members are disposed ateach respective side edge portion of the main body, the peripheral edgeportion of the main body becomes shorter at the portion where theelastic members are disposed by being pulled in a direction in which theelastic members are disposed. Accordingly, the central portion of themain body protrudes toward one side, so that the main body becomesdome-shaped so as to accommodate a front shape of a breast.

Accordingly, the breast pad fitting a breast can be produced withoutthermally deforming the materials. In this manner, no materials hardenedby heat are produced, so that unpleasant feelings caused by the contactof the user's skin with hardened materials, can be avoided.

Here, the main body of the breast pad can be formed to have a dome-shapeby the action of elastic members without heat deformation. However,wrinkles will be produced when the elastic members are shrunk if thereare materials fixed to the elastic members. In this case, the hardenedwrinkles may cause unpleasant feelings when they contact the user'sskin.

Accordingly, in the structure of the above-mentioned claim 6, the sideedge portions of the surface member to be disposed at a user's skin sideare folded so as to embrace side edges of the liquid-absorbing membertherein. With this structure, since the side edges of the breast pad arecovered by relatively soft materials, a user will not experiencediscomfort even if the relatively soft materials come in contact with auser's skin.

In this case, the surface member may embrace only the side edge portionof the liquid-absorbing member, alternatively may embrace the side edgeportion of the liquid-absorbing member together with the elastic member.

According to the present invention of claim 7 depending from claim 6,the edge portion of the surface member is folded so as to embrace theliquid-absorbing member and the elastic member therein at a side edge ofthe main body.

With the structure of claim 7, since the surface member embraces theelastic member as well as the liquid-absorbing member in the regionwhere the elastic member is disposed on the edge of the main body, thefunction according to claim 6 can be more fulfilled.

According to the present invention of claim 8 depending from claim 6 or7, the elastic member is fixed to the liquid-absorbing member and thefolded surface member, or to the folded surface member and thewaterproof member, in a state in which the elastic member is sandwichedtherebetween at a side edge of the main body, and both longitudinalopposite ends of the elastic member have portions not fixed to the mainbody.

With the structure of claim 8, since the edge of the long elastic memberhas a free portion not fixed to the main body of a breast pad,especially the peripheral edge portion of the main body, the peripheraledge portion is not pulled inwardly. This prevents an inward bending ofthe peripheral edge portion of the main body. Accordingly, such aninwardly bent portion does not give uncomfortable stimulation to a userbecause it does not come into contact with a user's skin.

According to the present invention of claim 9 depending from claim 8,the liquid-absorbing member is formed to be smaller than the waterproofmember and the surface member at a region in which the oppositeend'portions of the elastic member are disposed, and opposite endportions of the elastic member have portions not fixed to the waterproofmember and the surface member.

With the structure of claim 9, in addition to the function of claim 8,the liquid-absorbing member is smaller than the waterproof member, andtherefore, the material cost can be reduced.

According to the invention of claim 10 depending from any one of claims6 to 9, at an approximately expanding center of the elastic member onside edge portions of the main body, the waterproof member has an areanot fixed to the liquid-absorbing member and/or the surface member.

With the structure of claim 10, at the portion where the elastic memberis disposed, the waterproof member can avoid being turned inwardly dueto being pulled by the elastic member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a breast padaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view with the inner side of the breast padfacing up.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line D—D ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line E—E ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged explanatory view of the area F in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a comparative structuralembodiment of the structure of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing thecondition of a user wearing the breast pad.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of a conventional breast pad.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the breast pad of FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the breast pad of FIG. 5.

FIG. 11 is a schematic explanatory view showing the method ofmanufacturing the breast pad of FIG. 5.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described indetail with reference to the attached drawings.

Although the preferred embodiments described below includes technicallypreferable limitations, the scope of the present invention is notlimited to these embodiments so long as there is no specific descriptionsuch that the present invention is limited to it.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view seen from the inner side of thebreast pad according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2is a plan view with the inner side of the breast pad facing up. FIG. 3is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D—D of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 isa cross-sectional view taken along the line E—E of FIG. 2.

The structure of the present embodiment will now be explained withreference to these drawings.

A waterproof member 11 is disposed on the outer surface (equivalent tothe lower side of FIG. 1) of the breast pad 10, and a surface member 13is disposed on the inner surface (equivalent to the upper side ofFIG. 1) to be contacted to a user's skin when wearing the breast pad 10.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a liquid-absorbing member 12 is disposedbetween the surface member 13 and the waterproof member 11, and acushion member 14 is disposed between the liquid-absorbing member 12 andthe surface member 13.

The external configuration of the waterproof member 11 that gives shapeto the main body 18 of the breast pad 10 and the surface member 13, isapproximately round, and the sides thereof are formed to be straight.

The above-mentioned waterproof member 11 is a back-sheet and is fixed tothe upper side member shown in FIG. 3 by applying adhesive on a portionof an adhering part 11 a. Although the waterproof member 11 does notallow water to pass through, it is preferably made of materials whichallow vapor to pass through to thereby prevent getting musty and has acertain level of flexibility. The waterproof member 11 is comprised ofsofter materials compared with conventional thermally deformablewaterproof members. Examples of such materials include polyethylenefilm, polyethylene lamination nonwoven fabric, nonwoven fabric producedby a method of meltblowing and the like.

The above-mentioned surface member 13 is a member to be contacteddirectly to the user's skin. Accordingly, such materials should beselected from materials allowing fluid such as breast milk to passthrough and giving pleasant feelings. That is, since the surface member13 is to be directly contacted to the user's skin, the materials of thesurface member should be selected from appropriate materials havingpleasant feelings to a skin. Examples of such materials include adry-mesh sheet (mesh sheet formed of the polyethylene and the like) anda nonwoven fabric. The surface member 13 is disposed so as to involvethe liquid-absorbing member 12 mentioned below, and the elastic member17 by holding the extended side edges 13 a, preferably the extendedwhole peripheral edge, toward the front side.

In this manner, even if the elastic member 17 produces wrinkles facinginwardly as shown in FIG. 1 by the elasticity and they come in contactwith a user's skin, they do not give unpleasant feelings or stimulusbecause they are covered by soft materials.

As will be understood from the comparison of FIGS. 3 and 4, non-bondingportions 31, 31 in which the waterproof member 11 is not bonded to theside edge potions 13 a, 13 a of the folded surface member 13 is providedat the central portion (around the line D—D in FIG. 2) of the main body18. Because of this, when the elastic member 17 mentioned below, actsand the edges thereof are pulled toward a user's skin, the waterproofmember 11 does not follow them. In this manner, unpleasant feelings canbe avoided even when the waterproof member 11 comprised of hardermaterials as compared to the surface member 13 comes in contact with auser's skin.

The liquid-absorbing member 12 is made of materials having liquidabsorbing ability, for example, a pulp-fabric, a pulp-lamination or asheet member and the like. It is preferable that the liquid-absorbingmember 12 is a mixture of pulp materials in which grain-like polymersare mixed, wherein the grain-like polymers are superior inliquid-absorbing ability and can retain liquid by semi-congealing orcongealing.

As the materials, for example, absorbent copolymer, e.g., polyacrylicacid-base copolymer, hydrolysis of starch-acrylonitrile graft copolymer,starch-acryl acid graft copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol-acrylate copolymer,carboxymethyl cellulose and the like, is appropriately used.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the liquid-absorbing member 12, is embracedby a tissue 15 so as not to allow materials such as grain-like polymerto be leaked.

As shown in FIG. 3, the edge 15 a of the tissue 15 surrounding theliquid-absorbing member 12 is fixed at the portion apart from the centerof the main body 18.

The cushion member 14 disposed between the liquid-absorbing member 12and the surface member 13 is formed of, for example, a hydrophilicnonwoven fabric having a certain thickness to have a soft swelling.

In this embodiment, the cushion member 14 is formed to be smaller thanthe main body 18 and placed only in the center of the main body 18.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the surface member 13 isprovided with concave grooves 16 formed on both sides of the nipplecontact region C along the direction of an arrow A, or the longitudinaldirection of the elastic member 17.

As shown in FIG. 3, the concave groove 16 is formed by an embossingmethod and the like, pressing while applying a prescribed pressure ontothe main surface of the surface member 13, preferably pressing into thecushion member 14. Consequently, since the surface member 13 and thecushion member 14, disposed under the surface member, are fixed at thisgroove, the surface member 16, the liquid-absorbing member 12 and thecushion member 14, which constitute the main body 18, are not easilydisplaced from each other.

Each concave groove 16 may have uneven portions formed by changing thedepth to the main body 18. Thus, an embossed uneven groove along theexpansion direction of the groove is formed, resulting in an enhancedbonding strength, which in turn increases the shape-holding strength ofthe main body 18.

As shown in FIG. 3, each concave groove 16 acts as a folding portion soas to bend the peripheral edge of the main body 18 in the direction ofan arrow B. This forms a three-dimensional dome-shape with the effect ofan elastic member 17 which will be mentioned later.

In this manner, the whole central portion C of the main body 18 becomesa concave portion forming a nipple accommodating space, which preventsthe user's nipple from being unnecessary pressured. Additionally, thecentral portion of the aforementioned region C slightly swells in thethickness direction, resulting in a soft fit to the nipple.

In the cross-sectional view in FIGS. 3 and 4, the thickness of thebreast pad is shown exaggeratedly such that it appears considerablythicker than that of a real breast pad for an easy explanation of theinner structure.

Additionally, in the breast pad 10, the elastic members 17, 17 aredisposed on both sides of the main body 18. In this embodiment, theseelastic member 17 are disposed approximately in parallel along avertical direction (see FIG. 1 or FIG. 2) of the product and have aspecific length. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, each elastic member17 is fixed to the liquid-absorbing member 12 at an adhering portion 17a via the tissue 15, and further at the adhering portion 17 b in a statethat the periphery is embraced by at least side end portion 13 a,preferably by the whole periphery.

The materials affected by the elastic action of the elastic member 17are comprised of the soft surface member 13 or the liquid-absorbingmember 12. This elastic action does not affect the waterproof member 11because the elastic member 17 is not fixed to the waterproof member 11.

Accordingly, the waterproof member 11, giving hard feelings as comparedto the surface member 13, does not produce wrinkles at the peripheraledge portions 18 a, 18 a of the main body 18 where both elastic members17 are disposed. Thus, wrinkles'are produced in a member other than thewaterproof material 11, especially in the surface member 13 made ofnonwoven fabric or the like.

Consequently, as will be mentioned later, uncomfortable feelings willnot be given to the user even in cases where hard wrinkles comes incontact with the sensitive skin around the user's nipple.

In order to obtain approximately the same effects as mentioned above,the side edge portion 13 a of the surface member may embrace not boththe liquid-absorbing member 12 and the elastic material 17 but only theliquid-absorbing member 12. In this case, by disposing the elasticmember 17 inwardly from the edge, the surface member 13 and theliquid-absorbing member 12 are disposed between the user's skin andwrinkles of the waterproof member 11, so that the user's skin is notdirectly contacted by the surface member 13 and the liquid-absorbingmember 12.

As for the above-mentioned elastic member 17, various forms ofmembers/materials can be used so long as it is made of elastic materialswhich can expand and contract in its longitudinal direction and canshorten the edge portion of the main body 18 where the elastic member isdisposed.

In this embodiment, the elastic member 17, 17, being flexible in onedirection and made of soft materials, is preferably used. In otherwords, the elastic member 17 may be made of, for example, a long naturalrubber member, an expandable-and-contractible film, an operon tape, acombination thereof or a mixture/combination of a regular fabric and anexpandable-and-contractible fabric.

Due to the function of the elastic member 17, since a part of thecircumference of the approximately round-shaped main body 18 iselastically pulled, the entire circumference thereof becomes shorter.This causes the central portion of the main body 18 to protrude towardone side, resulting in a dome-shaped or a cup-shaped main body 18.

The elastic member 17 is preferably disposed below (lower side in FIG.3) the cushion member 14 because of the following reasons. Even if thesurface member 13 is disposed between the cushion member 14 and theelastic member 17, disposing the elastic member 17 near a user's skindeteriorates comfortable and pleasant feelings.

Furthermore, if the elastic member 17 is disposed too close to thesurface member 13, the function for properly shortening the edge of theperipheral edge portion due to the elasticity of the elastic member 17cannot sometimes be obtained. Accordingly, as mentioned above, theelastic member 17 is preferably fixed to the liquid-absorbing member 12at the peripheral edge of the main body 18.

Regarding the tissue 15 embracing the liquid-absorbing member 12 asmentioned above, the joint portion of the tissue 15 a should not belocated at the center of liquid-absorbing member 12, but be located at aportion closer to the edge thereof, for example, at the portion shown inthe drawings. Thus, the joint portion does not come into contact withthe user's nipple, thereby preventing uncomfortable feelings on theuser's sensitive nipple. Furthermore, since the joint portion 15 a isnot located at the nipple-contact portion, the adhesive used on thejoint portion 15 a will not prevent the absorption of the mother's milkcoming from a nipple.

The elastic function of the elastic member 17 acts on the peripheraledge portion of the main body 18 and the main body 18 is bent along theabove-mentioned concave groove 16. This causes the main body 18 to be athree-dimensional dome shape with the central region C protruding.

The concave groove 16 is preferably formed in a curved shape, whichresults in a more dome-like shape of the main body 18.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the central portion 16 a of eachrespective concave groove 16 is formed to be a curved shape protrudingtoward the central portion of the main body 18, which forms anapproximate ideal conical dome shape with the region C whose sectionalarea decreasing toward the central portion.

Alternatively, the curved shape of each respective concave groove 16may, in contrast to FIG. 2, protrude toward the outer periphery of themain body 18. In this case, the dome shape formed by the curved portionof the concave groove 16 will be a larger-sized dome shape with theinward region C having a larger area (capacity).

The surface of the waterproof member 11 of the breast pad 10 may beprovided with an adhering portion as shown in FIG. 9.

In the breast pad 10 according to the present embodiment, the upper halfportion and the lower half portion are symmetrically formed as shown inFIG. 2, and the elastic member 17 is not disposed at the upper or lowerside of the main body 18. In other words, the elastic member 17 isdisposed along the respective lateral edges of the main body 18, and theupper and lower edges thereof extend beyond the area where theliquid-absorbing member 12 is disposed, which will be understood fromthe comparison of FIGS. 3 and 4.

Since four corners of the breast pad 10 in the present embodiment arethe same in structure, the structure will be explained with reference toFIG. 5, the enlarged area surrounded by the reference letter F in FIG.2.

The breast pad 10 has an approximately round shaped main body 18 and isprovided with elastic members 17 at both sides of the main body 18, andboth sides thereof are formed to be straight. In this manner, as shownin FIG. 5, a corner 32 is formed at an upper portion where the roundperipheral edge and the straight side edge cross.

In the area shown in FIG. 5, the liquid-absorbing member 12 includingthe tissue 15 is smaller in size than both the surface member 13 and thewaterproof member 11. In other words, the surface member 13 and thewaterproof member 11 are identical in size and shape, and adhered one onanother.

The upper side 15 b of the liquid-absorbing member 12 including thetissue 15 has approximately the same curvature as the upper edge of thesurface member 13 and the waterproof member 11. The upper side 15 b isconnected to the area 15 c curved in a direction opposite to anapproximately horizontal upper edge 15 d.

The edge 17 a that is one of the edges of the elastic member 17protrudes from the upper edge 15 d. That is, although the upper edge 17a of the elastic member 17 protrudes from the upper edge area 15 d, itis disposed inside the surface member 13 and therefor is not exposedoutside. The upper edge 17 a of the elastic member 17, except the bottomportion thereof, constitutes a free area not attached to the any memberconstituting the main body 18 of the breast pad including the surfacemember 13 and the waterproof member 11 by adhesive or the like. Thispart constitutes a free portion 17 a of the elastic member 17.

With this structure, the main body can have a free portion showing thefollowing effects without enlarging the main body.

The following effects will be obtained.

As understood from FIG. 6 which is shown for the purposes of comparison,if the upper portion 17 a of the elastic member 17 is fixed with meanssuch as adhesive to the surface member 13 and/or the waterproof member11 constituting a part of the main body 18, the elastic member 17contracts due to the elastic function. The upper portion 17 a of theelastic member 17 functions to form a dome shape, and simultaneously topull the side upper edges of the surface member 13 and the waterproofmember 11 in the direction of an arrow G.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the corners 32 of the surface member 13and the waterproof member 11 are turned inward. In other words, thecorner 32 of the waterproof member 11, made of harder materials ascompared to the surface member 13, faces toward a user's skin. In thismanner, the corner 32 contacts a user's skin, which gives uncomfortablestimulations to the user.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when the top 17 a of the elasticmember 17 constitutes a free portion, or a non-fixed portion, theabove-mentioned effect will not occur at the waterproof member 11.Therefore, the corner 32 is not turned inward, and the production ofuncomfortable stimulus can be avoided. Accordingly, the elastic member17 does not produce any uncomfortable stimulation to the user whileproperly forming a dome-shape.

Needless to say, each elastic member 17 requires an identical or asimilar structure on the respective corners of the upper and lower edgesof each elastic member 17.

These free areas 17 a, in a manufacturing process, are formed bydisposing the extendable elastic member and then fixing the elasticmember 17 to the liquid-absorbing member 12 including the tissue 15. Aswill be understood from the above, the edge portion 17 a of the elasticmember 17 is an excessive portion. Accordingly, it can be omitted sinceit does not contribute to the prescribed function. In this case, thearea where an edge portion 17 a does not exist, or the four corners ofthe main body 18 where the elastic member does not exist, constitutesthe free portion.

If the size of the main body 18 can be made larger than the case of FIG.2, the free area where the effect of the elastic member 17 does notreach can be formed by enlarging the area constituted only by thesurface member 13 and the waterproof member 11 and forming the fourcorners of the liquid-absorbing member 12 including the tissue 15 tohave the same configuration as that of the main body 18 without formingthe curved line as mentioned above.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a user wearing thebreast pad 10. The front portion of the user's breast 25 has anapproximately hemisphere-shape, such as a bowl shape, and the nipple 26is placed near the tip thereof.

On the other hand, the breast pad 10 according to the presentembodiment, as shown in the cross-sectional shape, has a dome-shapewhich can almost cover the user's breast 15 and can cover the nipple 26at the concave area C due to the functions of the above-mentionedelastic members 17 and concave grooves 16.

With this structure, the breast pad 10 is not displaced from the breast25 with time because the breast pad remains in its shape withoutbecoming flat, nor does the dome shape deform. By means of the concavegrooves 16, a three-dimensional dome shape can be formed whilemaintaining the dome shape more effectively as compared to the casewhere only elastic members 17 are provided.

Furthermore, since the main body 18 is folded along the concave grooves16 as explained in FIG. 2, the region C protrudes outwardly, enablingthe nipple 26 to be placed therein, which prevents the nipple from beingunnecessarily pressed. In this manner, the nipple 26 which is sensitiveduring the nursing period, will not unnecessarily be stimulated andhurt.

Furthermore, since the nipple 26 can be placed softly on the surfacemember 16 due to the cushion member 14 and can be held in the vicinityof the region C due to the effect of the concave grooves 16 to beremained therein, the leaking of mother's milk resulting from the nipple26 being displaced outside the effective absorbent area of the surfacemember 13, can be avoided.

As explained above, in the present embodiment, the side edge portion 13a of the surface member 13 is folded inwardly so as to embrace the sideedge portion of the liquid-absorbing member 12 opposite to a user'sskin. With this structure, since the edge of the breast pad is coveredby relatively soft materials, even if this materials are placed on auser's skin, unpleasant feelings are not given to a user.

In other words, when the elastic member 17 contracts, the waterproofmember 11 harder than the surface member 13 does not produce wrinkles atthe circumference 18 a of the main body 18 where the elastic member 17is disposed. Wrinkles are produced by the surface member 13 made ofunwoven fabric or the like. In this manner, as shown FIG. 7, in thestate of wearing the breast pad, unpleasant feelings are not given tothe user even if it comes in contact with the sensitive user's skin.

Furthermore, both the side edges of the main body 18 include a side edge13 a of the folded surface member 13 and an area 31 that is not adhered.In this manner, when the elastic member 17 contracts and the side edge13 a of the folded surface member 13 is pulled toward a user's skin, theedge of the waterproof member 11 will be followed and turned toward theuser's skin, and does not come in contact with the user's skin. Thereby,unpleasant feelings caused by contacting the waterproof member harderthan the surface member 13, can be avoided.

Furthermore, the upper edge 17 a of the elastic member 17 is not fixedto the surface member 13 and the water member 11. Accordingly, thecorner 32 does not turn inward, and the giving of unpleasant feelings toa user can be effectively avoided.

The invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments.

For example, several cushion members can be placed in the main body 18.

Additionally, the concave groove 16 can be made not on the surfacemember 16 but, for instance, only on the liquid-absorbing member 12mostly constituting the thickness of the main body 18. The concavegroove 16 may be partially formed on a part of the materialsconstituting the main body 18 so long as the concave groove 16 fulfillsthe function for forming a bending portion.

Furthermore, the liquid-absorbing member 11, the surface member 13 andthe liquid-absorbing member 12 can be made of various kinds of materialsbesides those of the above-mentioned embodiment.

Additionally, every member constituting the main body 18 need notnecessarily be approximately round so long as the whole shape formed bylaminating various different shaped members has an approximately roundshape. In other words, as long as the member to which the elastic memberis disposed is approximately round in shape, the member can be retainedin a dome-shape.

Furthermore, some part of each constructing element of each embodimentmentioned above can be omitted, and can be voluntarily combined.

As mentioned above, the present invention can provide a breast pad whichcan be formed into a three-dimensional dome shape without heattreatments, and is superior in shape-retaining ability.

Furthermore, the present invention can provide a breast pad which can beformed into a dome-shape without heat treatments, and can avoid hardfeelings due to thermal deformations or heat treatments.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Thus, the present invention can be applied as an appropriate breast padto be placed between underwear such as a brassiere and a breast.

1. A breast pad comprising: a main body having a substantially roundshape contacting a user's breast, the main body having an edge portionincluding a first edge and a second edge opposed to the first edge, themain body comprising: a liquid-absorbing member; a waterproof memberprovided outwardly on the liquid-absorbing member; a first elasticmember disposed at the first edge; a second elastic member disposed atthe second edge, and a pair of concave grooves provided between thefirst elastic member and the second elastic member, extending in anexpansion direction of the first elastic member and the second elasticmember.
 2. The breast pad as recited in claim 1, wherein said concavegrooves curve along said expansion direction of said elastic members. 3.The breast pad as recited in claim 2, wherein said concave grooves curveso as to protrude toward a central portion of said main body along saidexpansion direction of said elastic members.
 4. The breast pad asrecited in any of claims 1, 2 and 3, further comprising a surface memberwhich comes in contact with the user's breast, said surface member beinginwardly disposed on said liquid-absorbing member and a cushion memberdisposed between said liquid-absorbing member and said surface member.5. The breast pad as recited in claim 4, wherein said surface member isprovided with said concave grooves around a nipple-contact portion ofsaid surface member.
 6. A breast pad comprising: a main body having asubstantially round shape, having an edge portion including a first edgeand a second edge opposed to the first edge, the main body comprising: asurface member, wherein the surface member contacts a user's breast; aliquid-absorbing member having a first surface and a second surface, thefirst surface being provided on the surface member; a waterproof memberprovided on the second surface of the liquid-absorbing member; a firstelastic member disposed at the first edge; and a second elastic memberdisposed at the second edge, wherein the surface member is extended tothe second surface of the liquid-absorbing member at the edge portion.7. The breast pad recited in claim 6, wherein said surface member isfolded outwardly at the edge portion so as to embrace saidliquid-absorbing member and said elastic members.
 8. The breast padrecited in claim 7, wherein said elastic members are fixed between saidliquid-absorbing member and said folded surface member, or between saidfolded surface member and said waterproof member, in a state in whichsaid elastic members are sandwiched therebetween at the edge portion ofsaid main body, and wherein the elastic members are not fixed to themain body at longitudinal ends thereof.
 9. The breast pad recited inclaim 8, wherein said liquid-absorbing member is formed to be smallerthan said waterproof member and said surface member at a region in whichsaid elastic members arc terminated, and wherein said elastic membersare not fixed to the waterproof member and the surface member at theregion.
 10. The breast pad recited in claim 6 or 7, wherein,approximately at an expanding center of said elastic member on side edgeportion of said main body, said waterproof member has an area not fixedto said liquid-absorbing member and/or said surface member.